A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought

A Philosophical Interpretation

Chad Hansen

A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought

A Philosophical Interpretation

Chad Hansen

Description

This ambitious book presents a new interpretation of Chinese thought guided both by a philosopher's sense of mystery and by a sound philosophical theory of meaning. That dual goal, Hansen argues, requires a unified translation theory. It must provide a single coherent account of the issues that motivated both the recently untangled Chinese linguistic analysis and the familiar moral-political disputes. Hansen's unified approach uncovers a philosophical sophistication in Daoism that traditional accounts have overlooked.

A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought

A Philosophical Interpretation

Chad Hansen

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction with Work to Do2. The Context of Chinese Philosophy: Language and Theory of LanguagePart I The Positive Dao Period 3. Confucius: The Baseline4. Mozi: Setting the Philosophical AgendaPart II The Antilanguage Period 5. Mencius: The Establishment Strikes Back6. Laozi: Language and SocietyPart III The Analytic Period 7. The School of Names: Linguistic Analysis in China8. Zhuangzi: Discriminating about DiscriminatingPart IV The Authoritarian Response 9. Xunzi: Pragmatic Confucianism10. Han Feizi: The Ruler's InterpretationNotesGlossary of Chinese CharactersBibliographyIndex

A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought

A Philosophical Interpretation

Chad Hansen

Reviews and Awards

"Hansen contributes a much-needed re-assessment of Chinese philosophy....Hansen is refreshingly revisionist as his hermeneutic lays waste to such misconceptions as "THE Tao," transcendence, and unsayableness associated with dao-ism, as well as fundamental misconceptions about Chinese language and thought....His twin fortes are an almost surgical, positivist linguistic precision, cutting away at fat and exposing the bare bones, plus a holistic approach....Overall, the author's polysemous grasp of Chinese history makes his magnum opus an interdisciplinary resource, sure to be of interest to all students and scholars of comparative literature, philosophy/religion, and intellectual history."--China News Digest

"The time is ripe for this sort of wide-ranging reappraisal. I believe the book will be a major factor in setting the tone and parameters of the debate for the next decade."--Victor Mair, University of Pennsylvania

"Hansen's book is challenging and engages the reader in a direct and personal way. In addition to language and skepticism there are many topics woven into the fabric of the book which will also engage the reader."--Canadian Philosophical Reviews

"A Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought is a bold book by an intellectually ambitious and always original author."--Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies